The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-04-27
Fancy Fowls.
New York Letter. I


Attracted by tumultuous crowd on
Cortland street, q reporter went 10 see the
show. Cages of fancy fowls of every va
Tiety lined the width of room and were
piled 10 the ceiling. From each proceeded
such a variety OF Growing and cackling as
is found usually in prize poultry exhibit
ton. The deep tones OF the Cochins at.
forded bass for the shrill notes of def
ance from the game cocks. The ba 1tams
timldly put in their oar, and the guinea
hens contributed their ''buckw heat"
which sounded like the creakiug of rusty
patent we'll wheel.
what is the latest fashion in fancy
fowls?'
'The very latest is the black Minorca, a
handsome variety Just imported from
England. They are of glossy black, with
large red comb. They are OF medium size
and lay big white eggs. They are larger
than the Leghorns, although they belong
to the same family-non-sitters. Interest
in them has developed in the last year.
They range from s. to SO each. White
Wyandottes and White Plymouth Rocks
have lately appeared. They are of Ameri-
can origin. They are good layers aud ex-
to 50 each. The regular Wyandottes and
Plymouth Rocks are Dominicks. A great
craze or them continued tor many years.
Cocks have been sold as high as S75 to
$780,"
DO fancy fowls sell as high as for
merlyYr
mo varieties have brought so much
lately. About twenty five years ago buff
COchins then first introduced, sold as high
as $3.50 each. They range now from So to
s.. They are very large, handsome and
quiet in their nature, and fair layers OF
large eggs. The Brahmas have always
commanded high prices. The highest paid
lately is $50. 1t is not uncommon to see
Brahmas possessing superior points as ex-
hibition birds sell as high as that. They
are good layers OF large, buh-cOlOred eggs.
The black Spanish is 2 very old variety.
They were about the first Of the fancy fowl,
snd have retained all nf their characters
tics. They lay large, fine white eggs, but
rarely want to sit. Ine POiands are an old
variety, priced more for beauty than any
thing else, although good layers, but OF
small eggs. There are sllver-spangled,
white-crested, black, and what is termed
a buff laced Poland. Numerous attempts
have been made to breed white fowl with
black crest, but they have all failed"
do game fowls hold their own?'
YES. They are the Oldest variety known.
| People have fought game-cOcks way back
| to the time of the C3esars. That is ss far
as my recollection extends, but probably
/ they fought in the ark. They are bred
very carefully for their fighting qualities
i by many private parties-so very carefully,
| indeed, that it is very difficult to get g
single egg. Besides being bred for the pit,
great attention has been paid to varieties
bred for show purposes. These are higher
stationed, longerleggej, and more rsngy
| Sporting men like pit bird to be low and
more compact. The exhibition birds would
make poor show in = pit with q regular
! pit h1rd."
last and least, how are the bsntsms?'
'Bantams are used for pets. They are
Of no particular practical use. Some come
from Japan, some from China, and they
are bred largely in England"
Cooked beef scraps, ground fine, are USED
largely by marketmen and egg producer:
as food. 1t never spoils, and is considered
superior to raw meat. Granulated bone j!
used in winter. Bone-meal is used for grow
ing fowl, to prevent leg weakness and tC
stimulate egg-producers. Ground oyster
shells are used to prevent soft-shelled eggs